Time to move forward with unity

“A house divided against itself cannot stand.” Abraham Lincoln’s immortal words – borrowed from Christ in the Gospel of Mark – aptly describe our present situation. Lincoln’s admonition proclaimed in 1858 at the Illinois Statehouse concerned slavery. The Civil War was still more than two years away, but he understood the moment.

Today we find ourselves divided again while facing a different set of issues. Left vs. Right. Democrat vs. Republican. Liberal vs Conservative. Blue state vs. Red state. Rioters vs. Protesters. Enough!!! It is time to jettison the labels. It is time to crucify the blame game. It is time to end the inflamed rhetoric. It is time to unify.

E Pluribus Unum: Out of many, one. We are Americans! That is our unity and our label. If your strategy is merely to find fault, then I am determined not to hear you. There is plenty of blame to go around, yes, but solutions, not grievances are paramount. We are in the midst of a stubborn and deadly pandemic.

Our economy is hurting and with it so are millions of our residents. We have just experienced what many historians will surely note fell short of a peaceful transfer of power. It is time to get our act together because time won’t wait!

Let’s end with another quote from Lincoln, delivered at his first inaugural in 1861 and a perfect sentiment as we move forward: “We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection.”

MEL PARKER Yuma